MP drums up support for youth development

By Lydia Shekighenda

16th June 2011

Email

Print

Comments

The government yesterday reminded district councils in the country to set aside 10 per cent of their revenue for the development of youths and children as important groups in the development of the country’s economy.

Finance deputy minister Pereira Silima issued the reminder here yesterday when responding to a supplementary question by Amina Makilagi (Special Seats - CCM), who had wanted to know the government stance on district councils which do not set aside 10 per cent of their revenue for the development of youths and children.

In response, Silima said youths and children were important groups in the development of the country’ economy, hence all district councils were supposed to contribute 10 per cent as the law directs.

In the basic question, Makilagi wanted to know the amount of funds allocated to the Ministry of Community Development, Gender and Children in the coming financial year because the ministry had been getting small budgetary allocations compared to other ministries.

Silima said that in the financial year 2009/2010 the government set aside 17.1bn/- and in 2010/2011 the ministry received 19.9bn/-, while in the coming budget a total of 16.3bn/- had been allocated for the ministry.

He said a reduction in the budgetary allocation was caused partly by the employment of new staff in the coming financial year.

Silima said funds for the employing of the new staff had been shifted to Vote 21 (Treasury) so as to control the problem of ghost workers.

He said the ministry was expecting to employ a total of 252 staff in the coming financial year.

Silima said despite the limited budget, the government had set aside funds in ministries and councils for community development, gender and children.